Public drop box for isolating received items

ABSTRACT

A publicly accessible drop box for isolating items deposited therein, includes a securable enclosure, a depository port, a closeable container having an opening and located within the securable enclosure, and a closure device for closing the opening prior to removal of the container. The depository port may include a housing forming a reception chamber having an entrance, wherein the housing is rotatably mounted within the drop box. The drop box may include a view port to allow viewing of the opening of the closeable container. The drop box may include a manipulation device extending into the securable enclosure to enable manipulation of the closure device or to enable movement of any items in proximity to the opening of the container.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 10/309,541, filed Dec. 4, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.7,159,762. The present application claims priority for U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/337,134, filed Dec. 4, 2001 and entitledCOLLECTION BOX, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.60/339,899, filed Dec. 10, 2001 and entitled SECURE COLLECTION BOX.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to depository boxes, such asmailboxes, and in particular to such mailboxes which isolate itemsreceived therein to prevent the spread of contaminants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The recent incidents of anthrax-laced letters being transported throughthe United States Postal Service (USPS) facilities by unsuspecting mailhandlers to unsuspecting recipients has alarmed the nation and theworld. Currently, the tainted letters are discovered after the recipientaccepts delivery or by alert postal employees noticing white powder thatcould be anthrax on mail parcels, sorting and distribution equipment, orthemselves. There appear to be no current security devices or proceduresthat are available to intercept such letters at the earliest source ofintroduction into the USPS system.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to be able to isolate items droppedinto mailboxes and other public drop boxes, so that adequate testing maybe performed to detect the presence of any contaminants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention provides a publiclyaccessible drop box adapted for isolating items deposited therein,comprising a securable enclosure, a depository port forming part of thesecurable enclosure and adapted to allow items to be dropped therethrough into the securable enclosure, a closeable container having anopening and located within the securable enclosure for receiving items,and a closure device adapted for closing the opening prior to removal ofthe container from the securable enclosure.

The depository port may include a housing forming a reception chamberadapted for receiving items deposited into the mail box, which housingincludes an entrance and is adapted to allow opening of the entrance forreceiving deposited items in the reception chamber. The depository portmay also include a drop box opening formed as part of the securableenclosure, wherein the housing is rotatably mounted within the drop boxfor causing exposure of the entrance through the drop box opening byrotational alignment with the drop box opening and for causing closureof the entrance by rotational misalignment with the drop box opening.

The drop box may include a view port located in the securable enclosureand adapted to allow viewing of the opening of the closeable containerwithin the securable enclosure. This view port may be a transparentpanel located in a side of the drop box, and be covered by a securabledoor.

The drop box may include a manipulation device extending into thesecurable enclosure and adapted to enable manipulation of the closuredevice or to enable movement of any items in proximity to the opening ofthe container, by a user located outside the securable enclosure withoutexposing the user to any said items located within the securableenclosure. This manipulation device may be a hazardous material mitt orglove extending into the drop box and having an open end for manualinsertion, which open end is sealed to a side of the securable enclosureto isolate a user of the mitt or glove from items within the drop box.The open end of the hazardous material mitt or glove may be sealed to atransparent panel in a side of the drop box, which panel forms a viewport into the securable enclosure.

The closeable container may be a standard size mail flat tray having arectangular open top and a top cover adapted for engaging therectangular open top and preventing air from escaping from thecontainer. The closure device may include a door hinged to the top coverand adapted to be left open for receiving articles, and further adaptedfor closure prior to removal of the container from the securableenclosure.

The drop box may include a duct forming a channel for directing itemsfrom the depository port to the opening of the container, and a shuttermounted to the securable enclosure and adapted for closing the channel.This duct and a side of the securable enclosure may form a chamberadapted for storing the shutter in an open position. The shutter may beadapted for removable coupling to the container to provide closure ofthe shutter with the removal of the container from the securableenclosure.

The closure device of the drop box may be adapted to close the openingof the container during removal of the container from the securableenclosure. A cover may be included and adapted to engage and close thecontainer during removal of the container from the securable enclosure.The drop box may further include a pair of opposed horizontal railsadapted for engaging the container within the securable enclosure andfurther adapted to engage the cover during removal of the container fromthe securable enclosure. The drop box may further include second andthird securable doors located in opposing sides of the drop box andoriented generally orthogonally to the horizontal rails, wherein thehorizontal rails and the second and third doors are adapted to allowsimultaneous insertion of one closeable container into the drop box andremoval of another closeable container.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a depository portstructure for a publicly accessible mail box, including a housingforming a reception chamber adapted for receiving items deposited intothe mail box, which housing includes an entrance and is adapted to allowopening of the entrance for receiving deposited items in the receptionchamber. The depository port may also include a drop box opening formedas part of the securable enclosure, wherein the housing is rotatablymounted within the drop box for causing exposure of the entrance throughthe mail box opening by rotational alignment with the mail box openingand for causing closure of the entrance by rotational misalignment withthe mail box opening.

The housing may include an exit from the chamber, and may further beadapted to open the exit by rotation of the housing after the closure ofthe entrance. The depository port structure may further include aclosure surface affixed to the mailbox in a position to block the exitwhile the entrance is exposed through the mailbox opening. The housingmay be rotatable in a first direction to a first position of alignmentbetween the entrance and the mailbox opening and further rotatable in asecond direction to a second position wherein the exit is open. Thishousing may be balanced to rest in the second position. The receptionchamber entrance may be directed generally upwardly from the receptionchamber and the exit may be directed generally downwardly from thereception chamber to enable gravitational movement of items through saidchamber.

The housing may include a flange extending away from the receptionchamber entrance in both directions of rotation of the housing, and thisflange may be adapted to isolate a user of the drop box from items thathave previously passed through the depository port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustratively shown and described in referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a public drop box constructed inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view diagram of the inside of the public drop box ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the drop box of FIGS. 1 and2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another portion of the drop box of FIGS.1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of yet another portion of the drop box ofFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a receptacle for receiving depositeditems in the drop box of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is a different side view diagram of a portion of the interior ofthe drop box of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an internal element of the drop box ofFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 9 is a side view diagram of the interior of a drop box constructedin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a side view diagram of the interior of a drop box constructedin accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective and diagrammatic views, respectively, of amail box 10 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention for isolating items deposited therein. Mail box 10 generallyincludes a securable enclosure 12 having a depository port 14 andforming a central chamber 16 in which is located a closeable container18 for receiving deposited mail articles 19. Mailbox 10 also includes aduct 20, which forms a channel for directing deposited mail articlesinto container 18.

A manipulation device 22 is shown extending into securable enclosure 12,in the form of a hazardous material glove or mitt. Manipulation device22 is mounted to a side 24 of mailbox 10 and access thereto iscontrolled by a securable door 26. Securable door 26 is shown hinged toan additional housing 27, which may be used for the storage ofmanipulation device 22 while mail box 10 is available for publicdeposits of mail articles. Housing 27 may be retrofitted to a standardmailbox.

Another securable door 28 is used to allow for the removal andreplacement of container 18. Securable door 28 opens downwardly toprovide support for container 18 upon removal from mail box 10. Door 28is affixed to an additional housing 29 for the purpose of retrofittingto standard mailboxes.

Duct 20 defines an opening 30 to container 18 for the purpose ofdirecting deposited mail articles into container 18. Duct 20, incombination with mailbox 10, forms a chamber 32 for enclosing a shutter34 used for closure of the opening 30. The movement of shutter 34 withinchamber 32 is directed by an arcuate guide 38. Shutter 34 may also beremoveably attached to container 18 by a coupling 39 to cause openingand closure by the insertion and removal of container 18, respectively.Shutter 34 may also be opened and closed by a linkage connected to door28. Manipulation device 22 may be used to open and close shutter 34.Manipulation device 22 also allows mail articles, that are piled up incontainer 18, to be cleared from opening 30 so that container 18 may beclosed prior to or during its removal from mail box 10.

A separate cover 40 is also shown for engaging container 18 as it isremoved from mailbox 10. Cover 40 is removed while container 18 islocated within mailbox 10 and engages container 18 as container 18 isremoved from mailbox 10.

In operation, mailbox 10 becomes a publicly accessible drop box adaptedfor isolating items deposited therein. Mailbox 10 forms a securableenclosure 12 having depository port 14 adapted to allow items to bedropped through depository port 14 into securable enclosure 12.Closeable container 18 is located within mailbox 10 for receivingdeposited mail articles 19. Container 18 has a closeable opening in theform of shutter 34 or cover 40, and a closure device is provided forclosing this opening prior to or during removal of container 18 frommail box 10.

Mail box 10 may further include duct 20 forming a channel for directingitems from depository port 14 to the opening of container 18, whichopening 30 may thereby be defined by duct 20. Shutter 34 thereforeprovides one form of closure device for closing the opening 30. Duct 20and the side of mailbox 10 may form a chamber for storing shutter 34 inan open position.

Mail box 10 may further include manipulation device 22 extending intothe enclosure 12 and being adapted to enable manipulation of the closuredevice by a user located outside of mail box 10 or to enable movement ofany deposited items in proximity to the opening 30 of container 18 andthereby facilitate closure of the opening.

Depository port 14 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and 4.Depository port 14 primarily includes a housing 50 forming a chamber 52,which is adapted for rotation about an axis or axel 54. Chamber 52generally includes an entrance 56 and an exit 58 (shown in phantom).Housing 50 also includes a partial shield or flange 57 extending inopposite directions of rotation for housing 50 from each side ofentrance 56 as well as a flange 63.

FIG. 4 shows a shield 60 which may be retrofitted to a common mail boxby suitably affixing shield 60 over the typical opening used at the topof mail boxes, as shown in FIG. 1. Shield 60 provides a means forrotatably mounting housing 50 at openings 62. Shield 60 generallyincludes an arcuate member 61, which is affixed to and bounded by a pairof end plates 64. End plates 64 are generally normal to the axis ofrotation of housing 50. Shield 60 further includes a pair of stabilizingrods 66 mounted between end plates 64. Rods 66 further providerotational limitation to housing 50. Arcuate portion 61 includes anopening 68 which forms a depository opening in mail box 10 when shield60 is affixed in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

When housing 50 and shield 60 are properly installed as shown in FIGS. 9and 10, housing 50 is rotatable in one direction (clockwise) to a firstposition 67 (FIG. 10), to cause exposure of entrance 56 by alignmentwith mail box opening 68. Housing 50 is further rotatable in a second(counterclockwise) direction to a second position 70 (FIG. 9), forcausing the misalignment of entrance 56 with opening 68 and thereby theclosure of entrance 56. Housing 50 is balanced to rest in position 70(FIG. 9) when not in use, which further insures that any mail withinchamber 52 passes through exit 58.

Mail box 10 further includes a closure surface 59 (FIG. 9) which isaffixed to mail box 10 and located to cause closure of exit 58 whenhousing 50 is in the first rotational position 67 (FIG. 10) and entrance56 is open. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, entrance 56 of reception chamber52 is directed generally upwardly from chamber 52 and exit 58 isdirected generally downwardly from chamber 52 to enable gravitationalmovement of items through chamber 52.

In this manner, housing 50 forms another embodiment of the presentinvention, namely a depository port structure for a publicly accessiblemailbox. Housing 50 forms a reception chamber 52 adapted for receivingitems deposited into mail box 10, which housing 52 includes an entrance56 to chamber 52 and is adapted to allow opening of entrance 56 forreceiving deposited items in reception chamber 52. Depository port 14may also include a drop box opening 68 formed as part of securableenclosure 12, wherein housing 50 is rotatably mounted within drop box 10for causing exposure of entrance 56 through drop box opening 68 byrotational alignment with drop box opening 68 and for causing closure ofentrance 56 by rotational misalignment with drop box opening 68.

Housing 50 further includes an exit 58 from chamber 52 and is adapted toopen exit 58 by rotation of housing 50 after closure of entrance 56.Closure surface 59 is affixed to mailbox 10 in a position to block exit58 while entrance 56 is exposed through the mailbox opening 68. Also inthis manner, housing 50 is rotatable between a first position ofalignment between entrance 56 and opening 68 and a second position 70wherein exit 58 is open. Housing 50 is further balanced to assume a restposition 70. Flange 57, which extends away from entrance 56 in bothdirections of rotation of housing 50, is adapted to isolate a user ofdrop box 10 from items previously passed through depository port 14.

Duct 20 is shown in FIG. 5 in a form that may be retrofitted to astandard mailbox. Duct 20 is rectangular in shape and includes an upperopening 82 and a lower opening 30 as identified in FIG. 1. As mentioned,opening 30 defines a closeable opening for a mail container 18. It isdesirable to restrict the opening of opening 30 to a size which issmaller than the dimensions of a container 18 so that deposited mailwill all be directed into container 18 and not fall in between container18 and the sides of mail box 10 (FIG. 2). Duct 20 further includes anupper flange 86 and a lower flange 88 which are affixed to mail box 10to further define the securable enclosure of mail box 10. FIG. 5 alsoshows shutter 34 passing through an opening 96 in the side of duct 20 topartially close opening 30. Coupling 39 is used to connect shutter 34 tocontainer 18 (FIG. 2).

One side of duct 20 is formed by a clear or transparent panel 90 thatthereby creates a view port into the securable enclosure 12 andspecifically provides visual access to opening 30. Transparent panel 90may be made from a variety of durable plastic materials, such as Lexan®.Transparent panel 90 further includes an opening 92 formed therein forallowing a hazardous material glove or mitt 22 a to be affixed thereto.The hazardous material mitt 22 a includes an open end 94 whichcoincidences with and is sealed along opening 92 in transparent panel90. This enables manual insertion into mitt 22 a while isolating a userof mitt 22 a from items located within the securable enclosure 12.

In this manner, a view port is provided in the form of transparent panel90 located in a side of securable enclosure 12 and is adapted to allowviewing of the opening 30 within securable enclosure 12. A securabledoor 26 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is further provided to cover transparent panel90. Manipulation device 22 may thus take the form of a hazardousmaterial mitt 22 a or glove (FIG. 2) extending into mail box 10 andhaving open end 94 for manual insertion, which open end 94 is sealed toa side of mail box 10 to isolate a user of mitt 22 a or glove from itemswithin mail box 10. Open end 94 may be sealed to transparent panel 90that forms a view port into securable enclosure 12. Shutter 34 may beincluded and adapted for closing the opening 30, and duct 20 and a sideof securable enclosure 12 may form a chamber adapted for storing shutter34 in an open position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective few of a closeable container 100 identical tocontainer 18 of FIG. 2, being partially closed by a cover 105 (identicalto cover 40 of FIG. 2). Container 100 is approximately the size of astandard mail flat tray and has an open top 101. Container 100 includesa handle 103 and a circumferential flange 102 which extends horizontallyoutward from open top 101 on both opposing sides 104 as well as ends 106of container 100. Circumferential flange 102 is used for sealing cover105 to container 100. Cover 105 includes a lip 108 (shown in phantom)along opposing sides 110 and one end 112. Lip 108 is adapted to engageflange 102 of container 100 in the manner shown.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a portion of the mail box 10 of FIG. 1,which portion includes the closeable container 100 without a cover.Flange 102 is engaged by a pair of guide rails 114. Guide rails 114 areaffixed to mail box 10 to engage the flange 102 on opposing sides 104 ofcontainer 100 and to support container 100 in close proximity to duct20. Guide rails 114 each include a slot 116 for accepting flange 102(FIG. 6). A guide rail 114 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 8, withslot 116 including a narrower portion 118 and a wider portion 120.Narrow portion 118 is located within the main body of mailbox 10 (FIG.2), and wider portion 120 is located in extension housing 29 (FIG. 2).In of this manner, wider portion 120 is adapted to handle both flange102 and cover 105. In practice, cover 105 is located within widerportion 120 and container 18 is pulled from mail box 10 by handle 103 tomaintain isolation of the contents of container 100 by closing container100 with cover 105 as it is withdrawn from mail box 10.

In this manner, container 100 may be a standard size mail flat trayhaving a rectangular open top 101. A closure device in the form of cover105 is thereby adapted to engage and close open top 101 during removalof container 100 from securable enclosure 12 and substantially preventair from escaping from container 100. Also, a pair of opposed,substantially horizontal rails 114 are provided and adapted for engagingcontainer 100 within securable enclosure 12. Guide rails 114 are furtheradapted to engage cover 105 during removal of container 100 fromsecurable enclosure 12.

FIG. 9 is a side view diagram of another embodiment of the presentinvention generally including a mailbox 121, a depository port 14 and acloseable container 122. The same reference numbers are used to identifyelements that are substantially identical in previous drawings.Depository port 14 is shown with housing 52 located in rest position 70.Depository port 14 is shown in greater detail with a multiplicity ofgaskets 124, 126, and 128. Gaskets 124 and 126 are compressible andlocated between flange 57 and arcuate portion 61 of shield 60. In oneembodiment, gaskets 124, 126 and 128 are made from Neoprene® rubber,although any comparable material may be used. In this manner, airborneparticulate contamination located within mailbox 121 is prevented fromescaping through depository port 14. Depository port 14 is also shown toinclude a handle 129 for user operation.

Container 122 is shown to be generally rectangular and include a cover130 for closing the top thereof. Cover 130 includes an opening 132 and adoor 134 hinged to cover 130 and adapted to close opening 132. Mailbox121 may further include a manipulation device (not shown) to allowclosure of door 134 prior to removal of container 122 from mailbox 121.

FIG. 10 is another side view diagram of yet another embodiment of thepresent invention generally including a mailbox 140, a depository port14 and a closeable container 142. Housing 50 is shown to be located in aposition of rotation 67 wherein entrance 56 is in alignment with opening68 of shield 60, thereby allowing the deposit of items into the chamber52 of housing 50. In an operative position, gasket 128 is shown to formclosure surface 59 which contacts and blocks exit 58 of chamber 52.

In one embodiment, arcuate shield 61 has a radii of 7.875″ and flange 57has a radii of 7″ leaving room for the gaskets or seals 124, 126. Axel54 is 5″ from shield 57, which makes flange 57 swing in an ellipticalarc. Gaskets 124 and 126 are in a frictional state in the middle of thetravel arc and in compression at each end 67, 70 of the travel arc.

Mailbox 140 includes a pair of securable doors 144, 29 a that arelocated on opposing sides of mailbox 140 and oriented generallyorthogonally to horizontal rails 114. Hinged door 144 provides anentrance into mailbox 140 for empty mail container 142 a, while door 29a (similar to door 29 of FIGS. 1 and 2) provides an exit for removingfull mail container 142.

FIG. 10 also shows the additional door 146 that may be hinged to opendownwardly and expose a transparent panel 150 similar to panel 90 (FIG.5). Hinged door 146 may also be used to support cover 105 during theextraction of mail container 142.

In a this manner, horizontal rails 114 and doors 144, 29 a are adaptedto allow simultaneous insertion of one container 142 a into mail box 140and removal of another container 142. Empty mail container 142 a mayalso be coupled by a coupling 148 to a full container 142, and container142 may be pulled from mailbox 140 resulting in the pulling of mailcontainer 142 a into mailbox 140. At the same time, a cover 105 may bepositioned to engage and close container 142 as it is withdrawn frommailbox 140. Alternatively, empty container 142 a may be used forpushing full container 142.

The present invention is illustratively described above in reference tothe disclosed embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be madeto the disclosed embodiments by persons skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention as defined in theappended claims.

1. A depository port structure for a publicly accessible mail box,comprising: a housing forming a reception chamber adapted for receivingitems deposited into said mail box, wherein said housing includes anentrance and is adapted to allow opening of said entrance for receivingdeposited items in said reception chamber; an opening formed as part ofsaid mail box, wherein said housing is rotatably mounted within saidmail box for causing exposure of said entrance through said mail boxopening by rotational alignment with said mail box opening and forcausing closure of said entrance by rotational misalignment with saidmail box opening; and an arcuate shield in which said mail box openingis formed and a flange affixed to said housing and extending away fromsaid reception chamber entrance in both directions of rotation of saidhousing, wherein said arcuate shield and said flange are adapted toisolate a user of said mail box from items that have previously passedthrough said depository port structure.
 2. The depository port structureof claim 1, wherein said housing includes a exit from said chamber, andfurther wherein said housing is adapted to open said exit by rotation ofsaid housing after said closure of said entrance.
 3. The depository portstructure of claim 2, further comprising a closure surface affixed tosaid mail box in a position to block said exit while said entrance isexposed through said mail box opening.
 4. The depository port structureof claim 2, wherein said housing is rotatable in a first direction to afirst position of alignment between said entrance and said mail boxopening and further rotatable in a second direction to a second positionwherein said exit is open.
 5. The depository port structure of claim 4,wherein said housing is balanced to rest in said second position.
 6. Thedepository port structure of claim 2, wherein said reception chamberentrance is directed generally upwardly from said reception chamber andsaid exit is directed generally downwardly from said reception chamberto enable gravitational movement of items through said chamber.
 7. Thedepository port structure of claim 1, further comprising one or morecompressible gaskets located between said arcuate shield and saidflange.